13 Dec 2022

There were no instructions given to Botswana Police Service in relation to events of December 3 at Serowe kgotla, Minister of Defence and Security Mr Kagiso Mmusi has said.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Mmusi said it was within the mandate of the police to attend to any incident or event which, in their view, had the potential to breach peace and to take steps they deemed necessary in response thereto.

He said the process of dispersing people through a proclamation was provided for under the laws of Botswana.
Minister Mmusi explained that there had been numerous use of a proclamation in the name of the President in the past in incidents that include the Segametsi riot and multiple strikes at the University of Botswana.

He said the recent was in 2021, where people assembled unlawfully at Broadhurst Police Station following the arrest of Reverend Thuso Tiego.

Gaborone Central MP, Mr Tumisang Mangwegape/Healy had asked the minister to explain instructions given to members of the police in relation to the Serowe kgotla meeting and why police officers said were sent by the President to disperse people at the meeting. ENDS